The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1887-11-16
THE EXECUTION.
The Last Words of the -Four Anarchists
Tho Final scene.

Tho FINAL scene.
Cook COUNTY JAIL, CHICAGO, Nov. IL.
August Spies, Adolph Fischer, George
Engel and Albert r. Parsons, tho four OF
the six convicted lIavmarket murierers,
have paid the penalty for their crime OF
the scnffod. The fatal drop fell at pre-
cisely ll:j1 O'Clock Friday morning
Following is "A description Of the final
scene;
The moment has arrived. the shutting OF
feet is heard i'll the corridor 1t is II: 40 to
the minute.
Sheriff Matson appears his back to the
gathering. He is facing the procession.
The condemned are all clad in white
shrouds and tightly bound. The men
walk entirely unassisted, and with firm and
steady step.
The four men are placed upon the trap.
All are CHASTITY pale Spies hair seems
literally TO stand upon end. Engel's shout
ders seem nearly to touch the top of his
head
Parsons sets his teeth firmly together
and looks down calmly upon the crowd he
meath. His face is the face OF man of
iron murmur Of admiration for his I'M
finching nerve goes through tho spectators.
-
audibly to the deputy. 1t is evidently of a
jocular character, for the condemned man
laughs heartily. Fischer looks at him a
moment and then he, too, puts in remark.
Spies and Parsons at either end of the
scaffold maintain stold and digniled de-
meanor bnt there is look of unutterable
woe on the face Of the e1-oditor which
pierces the hearts Of those surrounding the
scaiIold.
The shrouds had already been adjusted
before TIE men left their cells. Nothing
remains but to encircle zach neck with the
moose and to cover each head with the cap.
Jailer Folz approaches Spies. A quick
movement. SO quick that it can hardly be
noticed, and the rope is around his neck
and boing drawn taut There Is not a
movement of muscle. Tho same stolid
look, tho same woebegons look from the
eyes.
Folz moved a step and in a moment the
throat of Fischer was enclrcled by the
moose. He moved his head up and down as
if it hurt him Engel does not move as
the operation is being performed, Parsons
rivets his gaze on the ground, and his
features are contracted.
All four arc evidently determined to die
game.
a deputy approaches Spies with the cap
in his hands. The condemned man says
something in an undertone, he is evidently
demonstrating. The deputy waivers for q
moment.
Spies speaks more earnestly The
deputy looks at the sheriff. Tho latter
closes his eyes 1t is enough. The cap
is quickly drawn over the face OF the Anar-
chist leader 1t has been seen for the last
time in life. The head OF Engel is noxt
covered, then Fischer, Parsons last. Fischer 8
head moves up and down in the direction of
the sheriff, who with his hands upon the
iron railing of the gallery Is ready to give
the signal.
1t is as though the Anarchist. as well as
he can In his muslin covered head, Is
reckoning the sheriff to approach him.
That official, however, does not respond.
There Is a moment OF deathke stiffness.
The sheriff shifts his position little. He
Us several feet away from the speaker, but
tho speaker must have seen the movement
through the folds of the cap. There is =
rising infection in his voice, not 30 much
of pleading "a Of demand.
Then clear and distinct comes the voice
OF Spies, his form straightons up, the mus
lin seems to move in harmony with his lips:
"Our silence is more powerful than speech. y
That is all, but there Is ring to 1t that
echoes far away down the corridor.
Silence again for second, then In =
round full voice, shout, 'hurrah for
anarchy comes from Engel,
Another pause broken this time by the
voice Of Fischer 'lhis is tho happitSt
moment Of my life. " He has had his say.
Then the clear, vol modulated voice Of
Parsons breaks tho oppressive stiffness.
There is not that enthusiastic ring in it
which marked the utteranccs OF the others.
1t is not the voice of judge delivering a
decision. A scarcely detnntle pause DO
tween each word
''Shall | be allowed to speak, oh, men
and women of dear America. u
Let me speak, Sheriff Matson,' is what
he says 'Let the voice Of the people be
heard down went the drop. The last
words of Parsons had died upon his lips,
-Four bodies swung in air, and the Hay
market massacre was avenged.
At l2ll p. m. the pulses Of all the men
had stopped beating,
Judging from the appearance OF the
bodies, y said the undertaken, ''ths hanging
of these men was thoroughly scientific
piece of work. Engel was tho only one Of
the four whose neck was broken. The
ot har threa cloknl IN dasth ~